Abstract We investigate the Tukey order in the class of $F_{\sigma }$ ideals of subsets of $\omega $ . We show that no nontrivial $F_{\sigma }$ ideal is Tukey below a $G_{\delta }$ ideal of compact sets. We introduce the notions of flat ideals and gradually flat ideals. We prove a dichotomy theorem for flat ideals isolating gradual flatness as the side of the dichotomy that is structurally good. We give diverse characterizations of gradual flatness among flat ideals using Tukey reductions and games. For example, we show that gradually flat ideals are precisely those flat ideals that are Tukey below the ideal of density zero sets.

Abstract We give strengthened versions of the Herwig–Lascar and Hodkinson–Otto extension theorems for partial automorphisms of finite structures. Such strengthenings yield several combinatorial and group-theoretic consequences for homogeneous structures. For instance, we establish a coherent form of the extension property for partial automorphisms for certain Fraïssé classes. We deduce from these results that the isometry group of the rational Urysohn space, the automorphism group of the Fraïssé limit of any Fraïssé class that is the class of all ${\cal F}$ -free structures (in the Herwig–Lascar sense), and the automorphism group of any free homogeneous structure over a finite relational language all contain a dense locally finite subgroup. We also show that any free homogeneous structure admits ample generics.

Abstract We prove several trichotomy results for ideals of compact sets. Typically, we show that a “sufficiently rich” universally Baire ideal is either Π30-hard. or Σ30-hard. or else a σ-ideal.

Abstract We show that each non-compact Polish group admits a continuous action on a Polish space with non-smooth orbit equivalence relation. We actually construct a free such action. Thus for a Polish group compactness is equivalent to all continuous free actions of this group being smooth. This answers a question of Kechris. We also establish results relating local compactness of the group with its inability to induce orbit equivalence relations not reducible to countable Borel equivalence relations. Generalizing a result of Hjorth, we prove that each non-locally compact, that is, infinite dimensional, separable Banach space has a continuous action on a Polish space with non-Borel orbit equivalence relation, thus showing that this property characterizes non-local compactness among Banach spaces.

Abstract We prove that every analytic set in ωω × ωω with σ-bounded sections has a not σ-bounded closed free set. We show that this result is sharp. There exists a closed set with bounded sections which has no dominating analytic free set. and there exists a closed set with non-dominating sections which does not have a not σ-bounded analytic free set. Under projective determinacy analytic can be replaced in the above results by projective.

Abstract We prove that for every familyIof closed subsets of a Polish space each set can be covered by countably many members ofIor else contains a nonempty set which cannot be covered by countably many members ofI. We prove an analogous result forκ-Souslin sets and show that ifA#exists for anyA⊂ωω, then the above result is true for sets. A theorem of Martin is included stating that this result is also true for weakly homogeneously Souslin sets. As an application of our results we derive from them a general form of Hurewicz's theorem due to Kechris. Louveau, and Woodin and a theorem of Feng on the open covering axiom. Also some well-known theorems on finding “big” closed sets insideof“big” and are consequences of our results.

Abstract We discuss in the paper the following problem: Given a function in a given Baire class, into “how many” (in terms of cardinal numbers) functions of lower classes can it be decomposed? The decomposition is understood here in the sense of the set-theoretical union.